Uruguay Cruise from Montevideo to Ushuaia — 23 Days

Montevideo, Uruguay

Uruguay’s capital faces the broad Río de la Plata, where a working port and long waterfront set the city’s pace. Walk the cobbled lanes of Ciudad Vieja to find colonial façades, galleries, and the lively stalls of Mercado del Puerto. Beyond the historic center, the Rambla traces roughly 22 kilometers of shoreline, drawing locals to cafés, beaches, and sunset views. Come for grilled beef, Tannat wine, and a capital whose relaxed rhythm rewards a day spent on foot.

At Sea (At Sea)

Port Stanley

Stanley sits on East Falkland, where the South Atlantic’s wide skies frame a compact, distinctly British capital. Its painted houses, tidy gardens and sheltered harbor contrast with the islands’ open, windswept terrain. Visit Christ Church Cathedral and its whalebone arch, then explore the Falkland Islands Museum for local history. Beyond town, guided excursions reach penguin colonies and dramatic coastal landscapes.

At Sea (At Sea)

South Georgia Island

South Georgia is no conventional port of call; this remote, mountainous island is reached by expedition ship. Vast king penguin colonies gather beside beaches crowded with elephant seals. At Grytviken, a former whaling station, visit the museum, the church and Ernest Shackleton’s grave. Come for wildlife on an extraordinary scale, and for the stark history etched into this subantarctic landscape.

At Sea (At Sea)

South Orkney Islands Antarctica

The South Orkney Islands feel far from ordinary life. This rugged Antarctic archipelago lies about 600 kilometres northeast of the Antarctic Peninsula. On Coronation and Laurie islands, glaciers descend toward dark beaches where penguins, seals and seabirds gather. There is no town or conventional port; expedition ships visit when conditions permit, and ice and weather govern any landing. Laurie Island is also home to Argentina’s Orcadas Base, operating since 1904.

South Shetland Islands

The South Shetland Islands lie just north of the Antarctic Peninsula, across the often-choppy Bransfield Strait. Here, black volcanic beaches, glaciers and penguin colonies bring Antarctica close and unmistakably wild. At Deception Island, ships enter a flooded volcanic caldera; elsewhere, research stations mark a human presence. Expect landings shaped by weather, sea ice and wildlife rules, with encounters that reward patience more than a schedule.

At Sea (At Sea)

Antarctic Peninsula

The Antarctic Peninsula brings you within reach of Antarctica’s most dramatic scenery: mountain-backed glaciers, blue icebergs and sheltered bays. Most voyages cross the Drake Passage from Ushuaia, then explore by expedition ship and Zodiac, weather permitting. Watch for gentoo, chinstrap and Adélie penguins, seals and whales. Shore visits follow strict environmental rules, and plans can change with conditions. Expect few comforts ashore; the reward is a rare encounter with a continent still governed by ice and weather.

Drake Passage

Few sea crossings carry the weight of the Drake Passage. Here, the Atlantic and Pacific meet between Cape Horn and Antarctica, and conditions can change quickly. Some voyages pass in calm water; others encounter the swells that made this route legendary. Watch from deck for albatrosses and petrels, then settle into the ship’s routines. The passage is no mere transfer: it is the first clear measure of Antarctica’s scale and remoteness.

Ushuaia, Argentina

Ushuaia sits between the Beagle Channel and the snow-streaked Martial Mountains, at Argentina’s far southern edge. Its harbor has long served as a gateway to Antarctica, while the town itself rewards a slower look. Ride the End of the World Train into Tierra del Fuego National Park, or tour the former prison museum. Here, wild landscapes begin just beyond the last streets.